Transforming Incomprehensible Speech : The Effective Use of Fast Speech Rate in EFL Listening

Abstract

The present study aims to examine whether the way ofpresenting listening materials to Japanese EFL learners can affect their comprehension, comparing the effectiveness between fast speech rate and natural speech rate. To analyze their effect, this study set up the following three ways ofpresenting listening materials: 1) combining fast speech rate with natural speech rate, 2) natural speech rate repeated and 3) fast speech rate repeated. The results showed that presenting materials with fast speech rate before natural speech rate had a signicantly positive effect on listening comprehension and that repeating natural speech rate did not significantly enhance listening comprehension. These findings imply that by listening at a higher speed, what was once an incomprehensible speech rate becomes comprehensible.